Stained Cedar Shake Siding Flaking

Use a thick brush or backbrush to apply evenly.

Stained cedar shake siding flaking.

Another insidious cause of solid stain failure on cedar has to do with dead wood fiber on the face of the siding. One of the most thorough methods when staining is to use a thick natural bristle brush. This is a shame when on site staining results in premature coating failure. Lumber yards typically supply shingles that are not dried and stored properly for staining.

Brush on a coat of stain using a staining brush. Prepare your cedar siding by washing it with soapy water to remove any dirt or dust if any has accumulated. Use a thick brush when staining. Work with the natural grain of the siding.

This is a telling sign of the problem. Apply the wood cleaner to the cedar siding using a paint brush or roller. Coating the cedar shingles with a water resistant product helps to preserve the wood against moisture damage. Paint vs stain best stains seals and protects wood shingles leaving no paint mil to chip crack or peel.

When the peeling stain is scraped off dead wood fiber often stays stuck to the back of the flake. If possible stain all sides of the siding before installation. First remove any mill glaze a hard shiny surface on one side of the siding by sanding. Pressure washing your cedar siding is perfectly ok as long as the sprayer washer is set at low pressure.

Most western red cedar shingles are still stained by hand on site. The brush bristles distribute the stain evenly into the wood grain reaching into the small undulations on the surface of the cedar planking. These have more bristles than a regular paintbrush ensuring more even coverage. The fastest and most thorough method to apply stain to cedar siding is with a thick natural bristle brush.

Step 4 let the cleaner sit on the cedar siding for 15 to 30 minutes. Mix the cleaner according to the instruction and apply it to the stained cedar siding with a brush. 2 use wood cleaner. Staining these dirty wet shingles on site costs more and results in an inferior finish every time.

After you have washed it wait for it to dry before applying any stain to the cedar. Stains dry rapidly and fresh stain applied over dried stain will show lap marks. You don t have to do much to cedar shingle siding if you prefer its weathered gray look other than clean and coat it with a clear water resistant preservative and inspect it for rot and damage periodically. Staining cedar siding differs from application of paint and other finishes.

No stain or paint can adhere to dead wood fiber leading to major coating failure.